Super Eagles of Nigeria will start their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign today as they take on Swaziland in Lobamba.

The Nigerian side will once be taking their eyes off the brouhaha surrounding the resignation of de facto captain Vincent Enyeama and top striker, Emuneke Amuneke to focus on the qualification for the next FIFA World Cup.

The team is a mixture of youth and experience which points to the rebuilding process going on under the new manager of the team, Sunday Oliseh.

New captain Ahmed Musa, with in form goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi are parts of the new generation of Super Eagles to be backed up by veterans like John Mikel Obi and Obafemi Martins.

Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile, Rabiu Ibrahim, Ogenyi Onazi are all set for the encounter with Watford striker Odion Ighalo set to lead the line along with Martins.

Super Eagles returneee striker Obafemi Martins

Returning striker Martins has issued a rallying call to the squad to prove their quality against Swaziland who whalloped Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate to reach this stage of the competition.

Martins is making a return to the team after two years of absence, his recall to the team is due to an impressive run with his MLS side Seattle Sounders with whom he has a season with 15 goal return.

Also, Manchester City’s 19-year-old forward Kelechi Iheanacho could debut for Oliseh’s men as they look forward to reach a third World Cup final in succession.

Despite the impressive show put up by Swaziland against Djibouti, Martins remain upbeat about the encounter which is slated for Somhlolo National Stadium, an artificial turf pitch.

“I have always stayed true to my country and happiness is an understatement of my feelings right now, the national team means a lot to me,” he told News24.

“With all due respect, I don’t expect them to pose so much of a threat but we still have to approach the game with all the seriousness it deserves, as underdogs they have nothing to lose hence they will play with freedom.

“We are an experienced side and that gives us an edge but we have to be ready to fight till the end, we can’t afford to start badly.”

Ranked 130th, Swaziland have shown their capability as a giant killer with the 2-1 win over Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

As Swaziland prepare to take on Nigeria for the first time, Super Eagles boss Oliseh has shaken off a recent bout of illness to be in the dugout.

Opposite number Harris Bulunga meanwhile has warned his side to be wary of the threat Nigeria will pose, while remaining hopeful the hosts can cause another upset.

“We are facing one of the superpowers of African football so we cannot get carried away and go out and attack even though we are playing at home,” he told Brila FM.

“We need to respect the Nigerian team because they are made up of mostly professional players who we watch on television, we know what they are all about and how dangerous they can be, so we need to be careful.

“This is the first time Nigeria will be in our country and everyone is excited about the match. The general public, the government politicians even the players themselves, they are motivated and looking forward to testing themselves against these well-known players they watch on television.

“So the naton is in prayer, of course that at least in the two legs we will manage to win one of the matches. It’s going to be a tough match but we believe that we can give a good showing.”

FIFA U-17 World Cup record breaker, Victor Osimhen as well as Captain Kelechi Nwakali, have both paid special tribute to Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke following a record fifth title for Nigeria at the global cadet championship at Chile 2015.

Two goals by Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye saw Nigeria to glory yet again at the Estadio Sausalito Stadium in Vina del Mar on Sunday, in front of over 21,000 spectators including the NFF President Amaju Pinnick; NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and; a pocket of Nigerian fans led by officials from Nigeria’s Embassy in Argentina who came all the way from Buenos Aires.

Osimhen’s goal broke the existing FIFA U-17 World Cup scoring record of nine goals – just three days after he equalled the nine-goal record in a single tournament previously jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly, who were top scorers at the global cadet championship at Trinidad & Tobago 2001 and Mexico 2011 respectively.

Speaking after laying his hands on the Golden Boot of Chile 2015, Osimhen thanked coach Emmanuel Amuneke for being a father figure to the players, even as he dedicated his award to his sister who gave birth to a baby girl on Friday.

“I want to thank coach Amuneke again for what he has impacted in us and I’m also grateful to my teammates who helped me to break the record,” said the teenager who was also voted as the second best player of the tournament behind Nwakali. “The Golden Boot is also dedicated to my sister who just had a baby girl.”

Nwakali, who was rewarded with the adidas Golden Ball and the Second Runner Up of the adidas Golden Boot, said apart from God, Coach Amuneke was the architect of the team’s success: “Coach Amuneke is more than a coach to us. He is a father and I want to thank him so much. It is always the dream of every young player to win the World Cup and we are happy that he has helped us to achieve this glory.”

President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) is worthy of a bold mention in the Guinness Book of Records, according to NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

Pinnick spoke in Santiago on Monday morning as he boarded a flight to Buenos Aires on the way back home from a success story at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

“Yes, it is a success story as you just mentioned, but it would not have ended that way without the great support that the Nigeria Football Federation continues to receive from the President Muhammadu Buhari –led Federal Government.

“In fact, the Nigeria Football Federation is dedicating this triumph to President Buhari. He is a man of history. He was there when the first set won the trophy in 1985 as military Head of State; now he is here as civilian President when the Class of 2015 emerged victorious. Seriously speaking, I don’t think there is any Head of State or Government in the entire universe who has this honour, and for this, our PMB deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records.”

Pinnick, whose one –year administration can now point to successes at the African Women Championship (Namibia 2014), African Youth Championship (Senegal 2015) and now the Eaglets’ triumph (aside qualifications for several major tournaments), insisted on Monday that the masterstroke for the Eaglets’ confident and determined approach was President Buhari’s call to the team a day earlier.

“We appreciate the President for sparing time out of his very tight schedule to talk to each and every player and official. That was a massive motivation. At the end of the conversation, the players told me they would go all out and give whatever it would take to win, having been inspired by the country’s leader.

“Football is a potent and huge tool for national unity and the focus of the present NFF administration is to build a sustainable football culture for our country. Triumphs are good, but we must not overlook the sustainable culture.”

The NFF President assured that his administration would be strongly involved in the players’ development, unlike what happened in the past. “People have talked about monitoring the players. We would do more than that. We would be part of their developmental programs and seamless transition to senior categories.

“We are very happy with this victory because it gives us the opportunity to present to our dear PMB his first global crown on his return as civilian President.”

Pinnick, a member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and who joined the dignitaries to hand out the medals in Vina del Mar on Sunday, hinted that the NFF already has other targets in its immediate radar.

“Of course, we are celebrating. But I can tell you that our focus has already shifted to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal. It is important that we earn a ticket to the men’s football tournament of next year’s Olympics in Brazil.

“We will give Samson Siasia’s squad all the support to win the ticket. And of course, we have also concluded arrangements to ensure the Super Eagles defeat Swaziland in the race for the 2018 FIFA World Cup starting with the first leg in Lobamba on Friday,” said Pinnick, as he congratulated the U-20 women national team, Falconets, for earning a ticket to the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after beating South Africa’s Basetsana on Sunday.

Leading goal scorer in the FIFA U-17 World Cup going on in Chile, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria

FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 top marksman, Victor Osimhen is unfazed about the prospect of breaking the Championship’s nine-goal record.

The bean-pole striker on Thursday equaled the long standing record of nine goals in a single tournament jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly who were top scorers at the global cadet championship at Trinidad & Tobago 2001 and Mexico 2011 respectively.

“I’m happy that I was able to match the record set by others in the past but that was never my ambition here,” said Osimhen, on the books of Lagos Ultimate Strikers.”The most important thing is for us to win the trophy on Sunday and that would be the greatest achievement for us.”

Osimhen opened his Chile 2015 tally with a goal in the 2-0 win over the USA on the opening day. He continued with a brace in the 5-1 defeat of host Chile and was also Nigeria’s scorer in the 2-1 loss to Croatia in the group phase. He was also in superb form at the commencement of the knockout stage by grabbing the first hat trick of Chile 2015 in the crushing 6-0 defeat of Australia in Round 16.

Osimhen followed up his act with a goal each in the 3-0 and 4-2 wins over Brazil and Mexico respectively in the quarter and semifinals to solidify his position as the Chile 2015 Golden Boot Award hot –shot.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has said that the Final Match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 between Nigeria and Mali is good advertisement for African football.

On Sunday, the two West African sides will clash at the Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar in what is only the second –ever All-African final, since Nigeria and Ghana clashed in Japan 22 years ago, with the Eaglets winning 2-1.

Both Nigeria and Mali have flown the continent’s flag with pride en route to Sunday’s final and Amuneke enthused it would be a great day for African football yet again in Vina del Mar.

“African football has developed over the years and playing against Mali in the final of Chile 2015 shows that Africa is strong at this level,” Amuneke noted at the post match conference in Concepción after Golden Eaglets’ 4-2 win over Mexico.

The Golden Eaglets had in the run-up enjoyed favourable results at Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar where they crushed Chile 5-1 in their second group phase match, annihilated Australia 6-0 in the second round and battered Brazil 3-0 in the quarter final.

“On Sunday, we would give a good account of ourselves in Vina del Mar which has been a good venue for us,” the former Barcelona winger explained.”The fans all over Chile have been friendly but we have a special feeling playing in Vina del Mar where we have many fans.”

Yet, Amuneke was not oblivious of the challenges ahead, adding Mali who were crowned champions at the African U-17 Nations Cup in March are a very strong side. Incidentally, both countries did not meet in Niger Republic but the Eaglets can draw huge inspiration from their last encounters at the 2014 WAFU B Tournament in Togo where Amuneke –led Eaglets beat Mali twice with an identical 2-0 score-line.

“Yes, we met Mali in Togo but that was a long time,” recalled Eaglets attacking midfielder, Orji Okwonkwo who scored a goal each against the Malians on April 21st and 23rd, 2014. “The final on Sunday will be special and we pray that God bless us with victory.”

Ahead of the clash between the Golden Eaglets and their Malian counterparts, Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinninck has charged the Nigerian team to go for the Cup.

The atmosphere in the Golden Eaglets’ locker room soon after they beat Mexico 4-2 on Thursday at the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa was ecstatic and on hand to share the momentous occasion was NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who sang and danced but was quick to refocus the history-chasing Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side.

“Today, you convinced Nigerians you are the best and I want to thank you on behalf of Nigerians especially, President Muhammadu Buhari, for playing your hearts out and truly demonstrating the never-say-die Nigerian spirit,” he said amidst intermittent thunderous ovation.

“I’m extremely happy for Emmanuel (Amuneke) because he, along with other officials, have demonstrated that they are good fathers to you all and I’m glad that I was able to withstand the pressure to sack him when the team failed to win the African Championship trophy in Niger Republic.

“Here in Chile, Emmanuel has shamed all the doubting Thomases but I don’t want you to forget that the most important match is against Mali on Sunday. This is a life -time opportunity for you to write your names in gold and you know how appreciative our country can be to winners and heroes. Sunday is the day to write your names into the history books,” Pinnick noted.

Meanwhile, Coach Amuneke, at the post match conference, stated matter-of-factly that African U-17 champions, Mali who came from behind to beat Belgium 3-1 in the other semi final match on Thursday, would be a tough nut to crack.

History will be made on Sunday with the second all-African FIFA U-17 World Cup final since 1993, when Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 at Japan ’93, and Amuneke posited: “The Malians are the African champions, and we have to respect them. Aside that, they have also had a great tournament here in Chile. But we are a team that finds a way to play and function no matter the difficulty posed by the opposition.”

The 1994 African Footballer of the Year added: “When Sunday comes, we are going to play Mali and I think it is going to be an interesting match but we want to enjoy this moment because this was a great match against a very strong Mexican team .We thank God, we are going to play

the final again on Sunday and this gives us the opportunity to defend the trophy we won in 2013.”

Golden Eaglets Victor Osimhen celebrates with Orji Okonkwo after the later scored against Mexico

Golden Eaglets’ prolific scorer, Victor Osimhen has equaled the long-standing FIFA U-17 World Cup scoring record of nine goals in a tournament following his goal in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico on Thursday at the Estadio Municipal in Concepción.

The record was previously jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly who were top scorers at the global cadet championship at Trinidad & Tobago 2001 and Mexico 2011 respectively.

Osimhen, who is Golden Eaglets leading scorer going into Chile 2015 with a remarkable 41 goals in 73 international and domestic matches, opened his Chile 2015 account with a goal in the 2-0 win over the USA on the opening day. He continued with a brace in the 5-1 defeat of host Chile and was also Nigeria’s scorer in the 2-1 loss to Croatia to round off the group phase. He was also in superb form at the commencement of the knockout stage, by grabbing the first hat trick of Chile 2015 in the crushing 6-0 defeat of Australia in Round 16 and he followed up his act with a goal each in the 3-0 and 2-1 win against Brazil and Mexico respectively in the quarter and semi finals.

With the final match yet to be played, Osimhen is now on the threshold of history to break the record of most goals in a single tournament at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Golden Eaglets’ striker Orji Okonkwo has described his 35-yard screamer which fetched second goal for Nigeria in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico in the semi finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup as his best ever.

Okonkwo had played minor part in the tournament until fate thrust him into the fray, as replacement for Funsho Bamgboye who was suspended after two yellow cards. The boy grabbed the bull by the horns to score what is known in Nigerian football parlance as ‘intercontinental ballistic missile.’

“I have never scored a goal like this before and you cannot practice this kind of goal,” admitted Okwonkwo, the first boy in a family with six other children. The goal I scored against Mexico today is a wonderful goal and I’m dedicating the goal to my mum who has been there for me; challenging me to be the best.

“My dad died last year; I remember him too but it is my mum that has been there for me all this while. I thank her so much,” he said.

Okonkwo, is one of the team’s pacesetter performers who scored thrice, including a goal against Mali on April 21, 2014, at the sub-regional West African Football Union (WAFU) B Tournament in Togo where the Golden Eaglets finished third behind Benin and Togo.

Over 21,000 spectators including NFF President Amaju Pinnick, saw Okonkwo’s top -of -the -drawer goal but there was another person on his mind when his lively shot sailed into the net: Emmanuel Amuneke.

“Today, I want to thank Coach Emmanuel Amuneke for pushing me so hard,” said the player, who was sanctioned and kept out of the squad for months prior to the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic.

He continued: “He is a nice person who wants the best for us. Before the match, he called me and said: ‘Orji, this is your chance, you can’t avoid to let yourself and Nigerians down’ and when I scored, I kept saying ‘coach, coach, coach’. I’m grateful to him,” added the teenager who is two-time winner of the annual Karanka Reveria Invitational Tournament in Croatia in 2013 and 2015 with Abuja Football College.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick was in ecstacy on Thursday night after the Golden Eaglets defeated hard –fighting Mexico 4-2 in Concepcion to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.

Pinnick barely had time to catch his breath from a long trip that took him from London to Buenos Aires and Santiago before arriving in Concepcion. But he was on time to meet the team at the Diego de Almagro Hotels before they set out to the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa.

“I’m very excited, not only with the result, but the way the boys came fighting back after that early goal by Mexico. I keep saying that we have the potential to be world champions in several areas of endeavour.

“These boys have done Nigeria proud. They will go up against Mali on Sunday with great confidence and discipline, and emerge victorious.”

Mexico hit fast and hard as the Eaglets again chose to sit back and soak the pressure in the opening minutes. Magana struck past the brilliant Akpan Udoh in the 8th minute for Mexico’s opener, drawing the Eaglets out.

Captain Kelechi Nwakali drew Nigeria level with a brilliant free –kick with 10 minutes to the end of first half. But there was still time for Orji Okonkwo to rifle past the Mexican goalie in the 43rd minute for one of the goals of the tournament.

Mexico drew level on the hour mark as defender Diego Cortes sliced through the Nigerian defence as if it were not there. But Osinachi Ebere got on the end of a magnificent pass by Nwakali to restore Nigeria’s lead in the 67th minute, as the goalkeeper helped his close range shot into the net.

Victor Osimhen got his ninth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot after the lively right back John Lazarus was upended in the Mexican box, Osimhen thus equaled the tournament record of nine goals (by Sinima Pongolle of France in 2001 and Soulemany Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire in 2011).

Before the match, Pinnick had again commended the Golden Eaglets for their exemplary conduct at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, as he met Head Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, players and other officials. In attendance also was NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and Assistant Director (Technical) Siji Lagunju.

“Nigerians are happy with all of you because you have represented us well and I’m personally proud of you,” said Pinnick. “I don’t want you to forget that anything you are doing is for our great country, Nigeria.

“Thirty years ago, we won this trophy when President Muhammadu Buhari was the military Head of State and it would be a great thing if we can do it again when he is now the civilian President.”

The NFF President once again heaped encomiums on Coach Amuneke, advising the players to draw inspiration from his leadership quality both on and off the field.

“Your coach has proved that he indeed played for FC Barcelona; that he indeed is a legend of Nigerian football and a worthy African Footballer of the Year for that matter,” he said. “We want you to pay attention to his instructions and know that over 170 Million Nigerians are behind and supporting you.”

He said the occasion was not for talking and the NFF would soon unfold programme and agenda towards keeping these players for future assignments after Chile 2015.

On Sunday in Vina del Mar, Nigeria will be looking for a record extending fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup title, and Osimhen will be looking to set the tournament’s goals record.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick will be with the Golden Eaglets when they take on Mexico in the FIFA U-17 World Cup semi finals on Thursday.

The NFF boss departed on Monday evening, following the Eaglets’ 3-0 thrashing of three –time winners Brazil in the quarter -finals on Sunday.

“I am very excited with the way the team has played so far, raising our country’s flag very high. The Head Coach (Emmanuel Amuneke) has shown tremendous maturity and has managed the team and everything around it brilliantly.

“Amuneke is the kind of person you would naturally recommend for higher responsibilities. He has clearly rubbished all insinuations and dark innuendoes against him and has continued to do a marvelous job quietly. He has earned his respect.”

The Eaglets take on Mexico’s U-17 at the 30,000 –capacity Estadio Municipal Ester Roa in Concepcion, with the prospect of a second –ever all-African final looming large in the South American nation.

Mean and miserly (in terms of goals conceded so far – only one) Mali take on Belgium (the only European team left in contention) in Vina del Mar, which will has become a home of sort to the Golden Eaglets and will host Sunday’s final.

Mali and Belgium play the first semi final, starting from 5pm (9pm Nigeria time), before the Nigeria, Mexico clash that will again kick off at midnight in Nigeria.

On Monday, NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme arrived in Chile to join the high –flying Golden Eaglets.